Fertility Options for Women with Endometriosis: In Vitro Fertilization versus Surgical Excision or Ablation

Endometriosis negatively affects the fertility of many women of reproductive age worldwide. Some women with endometriosis are able to conceive without reproduction assistance, while others require medical intervention. In vitro fertilization and surgical management are available and widely used in the treatment of endometriosis associated infertility. In vitro fertilization has been found to be effective in women with stages I-IV endometriosis, with varying degrees of success at each stage. These varying results may be due to oocyte quality and availability as well as endometriosis location. Surgical excision and/or surgical ablation of endometriosis/endometriomas may also improve chance of successful pregnancy but has been found to decrease ovarian reserve and therefore decrease future fertility as a result of ovarian damage and decreased ovarian reserve. This project will discuss surgical treatment of endometriosis and in vitro fertilization in patients with endometriosis and the result of each on achieving and maintaining pregnancy.https://commons.und.edu/pas-grad-posters/1147/thumbnail.jp